Improvement in corn-planters



3 Sheets-Sheet, 1,

- A. 81; M. RUNSTETLER.

Corn-Planter.

KFETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFMER. WASHINGTON. DA C` are@ 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 8. A. 8v 1VI.RUNSTETLER. Corn-Planter.

No. 204,093. Patented May 21,1878.

u u m i Immun PNOTO-LITHOGRAFNER.

UNITED', STAT-Es Rarnrrr OFFICE.

ANDREW RUN STETLER AND MICHAEL RUNSTETLER, OF MOLlNE, ILLINOIS., ASSIGNORS TO DEERE & MANSU'R'COMPANY, O F ASAME PLAGE.

||v| PRovl-:MENT IN CORN-PLANTERS.

'Specification-forming part of Letters Patent o. 204,093, dated May 21,1878; application filed January 2, 1878.

To all whom it may'concem; y

Beit known that we, ANDREW RUNSTETLER form a part of this specification.

Figure lis a top-plan view of a lcorn-planter Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewy in the line x :t in Figyl. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view .inthe line y y in Fig. 1, and elevation of adjacent: Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the rear.I` portions of the machine. Fig. 5 is a front ele `vation of the forward parts of the machine.

embodying our invention.

parts.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top-plan view of the interior of one of the' seed-boxes. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view in the lines w in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a vertical section al view in `the lines y y in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 6, with portions removed. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a seed-box, partly broken away to show the interior. y A

Our invention relates to improvements in corn-planters; and consists, first, ina forward framewhich carries the seeding devices, pivoted to the rear main frame, which carries the wheels, in such a manner that the forward and rear frames may be oscillated, either upon the other, in a vertical plane transversely with the planter, to permit of either furrow-opener or runner rising and falling independent of the other runner, and to permit of similar reresults for the wheels; second, in the use of a sliding connection between the lever for raising and lowering the forward frame, and the supplemental lever for operating said primary lever 5 third, in the use of connecting devices between the lever for raising the forward frame, and said frame, which permits of sepa-v rating said parts without removal of bolts or other fastening; fourth, in the peculiar method of seating and securing the springs for controlling the action of the cut-offs or valves in the eeedfslides, an es hereinafter funy aescribed, and set forth in thel claims hereto annexed. Referring to the parts by letters, the sameletter indicating the same part in the different views, A A represent the side bars, connected by a front bar, A', and rear bar All and axle B, and constituting an. ordinary rear frame of a cornplan'ting machine, supported on wheels B" B", and carrying a drivers seat, C, mounted on inclined bars C kC.

D D are seed-boxes, connected by4 bars D',

and providedwith seed-tubes D" and runners or furrow-openers E, the forward lends of which are journaled, one to each end of a bar, F, by stud-bolts f, and constitute, with a dropmans seat, G, an ordinary forward frame. of a corn-planter. v lhe bar F is journaled at its central part by a journal, f', to the central part and front side of the bar A', so the bar F may be oscillated on the bar A to permit either runner E to rise and fallindependent of the other, or the bar A to oscillate on the bar F to Apermit either wheel B' or B"l to rise and fallindependent of the other, thus'adapting the machine to regular depth of planting on ground with an uneven surface. y y

The ends ofthe bar F are connected to one of the bars D by bracesg, so that the ends of the bars D 'and the bar F must rise and fall together in oscillating the bar F, and so that the bars D' may be raised to raise `the rear ends of the runners simultaneously on the having inwardly-projecting ledges h on their upper adjacent faces, which ledges h t over studs i, projecting laterally from a plate, I,

which projects downward from one of the bars D. (See Fig. 3.) This connection between the lever H and the forward frame permits of raising and lowering the forward frame by the lever, and also permits of removing the lever from the forward frame without releasing bolts or other fastenings, in the evident manner.

J is an auxiliary lever, journaled mid-length between the bars C', its front end provided with the plates j for the drivers feet, and its rear end projecting back between two plates,

j', which project upwardly from the rear end of the lever H, and carry a pulley, j, between their upper ends, against which pulley the rear end of the lever J acts when the driver presses downward on its forward end to raise the rear end of the lever H and depress its forward end to bear down upon the forward frame. j'" is a lug or catch projecting upward between the lower ends of the plates j, and against which the rear end of the lever J may rest, as shown by dotted lines at Fig. 2, to lock the levers J and H, for retaining the forward frame in an elevated position above the ground.

K K are wheel-Scrapers, hung on bars K K, which are independent of each other, and which are journaled in bearings k. Each bar K K has a ,pendent arm, k', connected by a rod, k", with a pendent arm, 76', from a footpedal lever, 16", the forward end of which is pivoted between lugs 7a2 on the aXle B, and the rear end of which projects, and, by its overhanging weight, keeps the yscraper K pressed against the wheels until the driver may desire to release either of them 'by raising the rear end of either pedal km with Vhis foot.

L L are the seed-slides, connected by the usual connecting-rod l, and operated by a lever, l', or otherwise. The slides Lvare of the class which have each two valves or cut-offs, m, attached to it, with their free endstoward each other and their distant ends pivoted to the slide, so as to permit their adjacent ends to rise and fall. The slides are also of that class Whieh are slotted horizontally,.so that. they may be reciprocated astride a fixed plate, N, having openings n n, which constitute the seed-measuring cups, and which discharge their seed alternately to the seed-tubes D" in the manner common to this class of slides. `l) is a cap over the seed-slide, with an opening, p, for the seed to reach the seed-cups, and with an opening, r, over each valve, surrounded by an upwardly-projectingwall, r', slotted in opposite sidesfor the reception of lugs s, which project laterally from plates S, which rest upon the valves m. T is a rubber spring over each plate S. U is a cap, bolted at one end to the cap P, and its other end, projecting over the wall r, serves `to retain `the spring T and plate S in placeover the valve m and within the walls r', and to protect the valve from the seed, and may be removed for access to either valve separately when desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a corn-planter having aforward frame `carrying the seeding devices and a rear frame `for the purpose specified.

3. The lever H, having plates` h', with ledges h" on their upper inner faces, combined `with the plate I, having studs i, for raising and lowering the forward frame of a corn-planter and permitting easy separation of the parts, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The opening 1', having Walls r', slotted for the lugs on the plates S, and combined 4to operate with the plates S, spring T, and valves fm, substantially as described, andfor `the purpose specified.

VIn testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we afilxour signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW RUNSTETLER'. MICHAEL RUNSTETLER. Witnesses:

J. T. BROWNING, J. W. ATKINsoN. 

